About Little Corn Island

The Corn Islands:

Big Corn & Little Corn Island

Corn Islands are located about 50 miles east of the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua. Little Corn Island is only about 1.5 sq miles in size, but bursting with natural character. You won’t believe you’re in Nicaragua when you arrive here, this is truly an oasis of tranquility and a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of the mainland. You’ll be transported to the Caribbean as it was 50 years ago.

Home to around 800 people speaking Creole-English, Spanish and Miskito, Little Corn Island is one the most friendly places you’re likely to find, with a real sense of community and people willing to talk with you, and share their experiences as well as help you out.

Both of the Corn Islands were under British rule from the 17th to 19th Century and were often visited by pirates and privateers passing though these waters.

Fishing, in particular for lobster, has been a mainstay of the island for many years, but starting in the late 1990’s, tourism has also been a growing and evolving part in the island economy, with foreign and local investment offering more amenities for tourists and thus additional employment opportunities for the islanders.

What to do on Little Corn Island

Relax, dive, snorkel, kite surf, kayak, fish (deep sea and fly), yoga, hike, paddle board, massage, horseback riding… or just find an empty beach and get away from it all… perfect really… many call it paradise. There’s a tab in the menu at the top of this page that provides you with a fairly comprehensive listing of the activities that the island has to offer.

Corn Islands/Caribbean Weather

In general, the weather here in the Corn Islands is temperately warm all year (mid 80’s F, 26-29° C), and sunny and gently to moderately breezy most of the time. There is a “rainy season” (like in the rest of the Caribbean), but even during those months, most of the time it’s sunny, with occasionally passing showers.

The following weather forecast apps seem to be the most reliable for local weather conditions.  Windfinder – This site is great to know what’s happening with local winds (and can help you stay informed as your departure date arrives too). The pangas run twice a day unless the wind is very strong. If winds are higher, larger boats may be substituted. (It’s a pretty rare occasion that there isn’t some form of transportation between the islands). While you’re on the island, feel free to check on weather and panga schedules at Tranquilo Cafe, as they’re usually on top of these things. Foreca – A decent overall weather app with good coverage for this area.

Again, like the rest of the Caribbean, during some of the year, we can get a passing shower or two each day and as a result, the forecast may show some kind of rain icon on your weather app many days between May and late December. That doesn’t mean it will rain all, or even any substantial part of any day, just that chances are some brief rain will pass.. usually in early morning, or in the evening, just like the rest of the tropics, and including US cities like Miami (although we never get super-hot like Miami, and hurricanes are much more rare down here than the northern Caribbean). Overall, the Corn Islands are sunny about 90%+ of the days of the year.

Money

As with rest of mainland Nicaragua, the Cordoba is the recognized primary currency, but US dollars are also happily accepted everywhere (provided they are in good condition with no rips, tears, or defacing, otherwise the local banks and businesses will likely not accept them). Smaller bills are preferred, and don’t expect small local owned businesses to be able to change your $50 or $100 bill. ATM’s at the Managua airport, as well as most cities on the mainland, and also Corn Island work with most foreign debit and credit cards, and many dispense both Cordobas and US Dollars

There is no bank on Little Corn, which means the nearest one, including an ATM, is on Big Corn Island, so come prepared with some cash. An increasing number of businesses here now also accept credit cards, but check in advance to avoid having to make a trip back to the Big Island to top up your funds! (Tranquilo Café offer cash back on most credit and debit cards, subject to a 10% fee to cover bank charges. But this has saved many a guest from having to spend half the day traveling over to Big Corn just to replenish their cash funds). The “Stop & Shop” next door to Tranquilo also offers some bank related services.

Security is generally not an issue on the island, and in the last few years the island has established the best law enforcement presence it’s ever had, and Little Corn has probably the lowest crime rate of any area in Nicaragua. But normal precautions should be taken as when traveling anywhere, such as keeping your room locked, keeping valuables locked away, and not leaving valuable things on the beach unattended when going swimming or snorkeling.

Internet/WiFi

Little Corn Island is a remote location, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have to do without reliable internet and WiFi (unless you want to). Cellular company Claro provides both phone and 4G/LTE internet service here. You can pick up a SIM card for your phone at most small shops in Managua, and there is a Claro booth inside the Managua airport main terminal. Many local cafes, bars, and hotels here offer WiFi. Some spots are better than other’s depending on their provider, and hours that they have power. The most reliable locations for good, all-day, high-speed WiFi are: Tranquilo Cafe, Desi Cafe, Delfines Hotel (also their restaurant and dive shop), Little Corn Beach and Bungalow (including restaurant), and Yamaya Reefs resort. Tranquilo Cafe and Desi happily host remote workers/digital nomads provided you purchase something. A number of other places on the island do provide WiFi, but possibly not quite as fast and reliable. Cellular internet is pretty good here, but it can depend on your location on the island.

What To Pack

• Sunglasses, reef-friendly sunscreen, mosquito repellent. • Swimwear, lightweight summer clothing (shorts, t-shirts or tanks, light dresses and blouses), a rain jacket or poncho, and a long-sleeve. • Comfortable walking shoes, and a pair of reliable flip-flops for the beach • Snorkeling gear (optional, and can also be rented locally, or your hotel may have it) • A quick-dry towel, eco-friendly toiletries • A reusable bag (good for carrying beach gear or groceries from the market • A refillable water bottle (reduces plastic waste and several cafes offer filtered water for free) • A good book (there’s also a lending library at Tranquilo Cafe and Dolphin Dive. • A decent camera or smartphone that has a good one (you’ll want to take lots of pictures!) • Flashlight for walking pathways at light. • A small power bank for your phone and other electronic gear.